Jayvaughn sat nearby, his eyes fixed on Axel, a mix of surprise and admiration flickering in his gaze.
They had been working together for hours, the synergy between them palpable. Axel had nearly forgotten who he was collaborating with—Jayvaughn Draxler, the man who had a knack for getting under his skin.
But in this moment, with their creative energies aligned, past grievances faded into the background.
Jayvaughn hadn't anticipated Axel's profound insight into music. He watched as Axel subtly adjusted notes, layered harmonies, and fine-tuned the rhythm with the precision of someone who had lived and breathed music for years. It was impressive, to say the least.
Unbeknownst to Jayvaughn, Axel's musical prowess stemmed from a mission in his previous life as Z, an elite assassin.
Tasked with eliminating a reclusive music enthusiast who was heavily guarded, Axel had immersed himself in the world of music to get close to his target. The skills he acquired then were now proving invaluable.
Their creative flow only halted when Axel leaned back with a sigh. "I can't seem to get the hook right," he muttered.
Jayvaughn rubbed the back of his neck. "Same here. I think we've reached our limit for tonight."
Axel stood and stretched. "I'm heading back to my room. I need to sleep."
"I'll walk you back," Jayvaughn offered casually.
Axel shot him a glare. "What's there to walk back? I only need to take the elevator to my apartment. And don't think I forgot about what you did earlier. I'm still angry at you."
Jayvaughn blinked, feigning confusion. "What did I do earlier? I don't seem to remember."
Axel's eye twitched. He pointed a finger at Jayvaughn and spluttered, "You—you, you two-faced motherfucker! I'm not talking to you anymore."
Spinning around, Axel stormed off toward the elevator.
Jayvaughn smirked and followed him. "Oh, you were talking about that kiss we mistakenly shared earlier? That wasn't my fault. You kicked me and made me unstable, so I had to fall on you—which led to that kiss."
He paused dramatically, then added with a grin, "And to be honest, your lips are really soft."
Axel froze. His face turned crimson, a mixture of rage and embarrassment flooding his system. He seriously contemplated turning around and fighting Jayvaughn to the death.
Then logic kicked in. Even in his old body, the odds of winning a fight against Jayvaughn were slim. In this new, weaker frame? No chance.
With a scoff, Axel stomped into the elevator, side-eyeing Jayvaughn as he followed him in. When they reached his floor, Axel punched in his apartment code. Before Jayvaughn could even say another word, he slammed the door shut in his face.
Outside, Jayvaughn stood still for a second, then swiped a finger across his nose with a soft laugh.
He'd seen the code Axel had entered but chose not to use it. Forcing his way in now would only make things worse. Instead, he turned and began walking back to his own apartment.
As he walked, his thoughts lingered on Axel's scowling, flushed face. He chuckled to himself.
"That expression was really cute," he murmured. "My favorite thing now is making that icy mask of his crack. Watching him react to me... it's addicting." He looked up at the night sky. "But it looks like he's really angry this time."
____________________
The Next Morning
Axel awoke to the soft hum of his alarm, the digital clock displaying 11:00 AM. He groaned, dragging himself out of bed. "I'm sleeping too damn much these days," he muttered.
He moved through his routine, starting with cardio to recondition his body post-coma. Afterward, he opened his wardrobe and smirked.
All the original Axel's flashy, impractical clothes were gone. In their place were sleek, functional outfits that he had personally chosen. Finally, something wearable.
The smile on his face widened as a notification popped up on his phone: the computer parts he ordered from a black-market supplier had arrived. He changed quickly and buzzed the shipping company to bring the boxes up.
At his door, he was surprised to see Jayvaughn pressing the doorbell. Axel opened the door just as the deliverymen arrived.
Jayvaughn stepped inside naturally, like he belonged there.
Axel narrowed his eyes but allowed it, focusing on instructing the deliverymen on where to place the boxes. Once they were gone, he turned to Jayvaughn. "What are you doing here?"
Jayvaughn lifted a paper bag. "I came to bring you breakfast. Well, brunch now."
Axel glanced at the large parcels. Jayvaughn followed his gaze. "What are those?"
"None of your business," Axel snapped, then paused. That sounded unnecessarily harsh. The man did bring him food. He sighed. "Thanks for the breakfast."
Jayvaughn shrugged. "You're welcome."
He made no move to question the parcels again, sensing Axel's boundaries. After a short silence, he nodded and left.
The rest of the day passed in a blur for Axel. He spent hours assembling the computer components and configuring his new workstation.
When it was finally complete, it was already past midnight. His computer room looked like a set straight out of a sci-fi movie, complete with custom cooling units, multiple monitors, and specialized hardware.
His stomach growled loudly. He realized he hadn't eaten anything since the food Jayvaughn had brought. With a groan, he trudged into the kitchen, toasted some bread, and fried a few eggs.
After eating, he dragged his feet back to his room, collapsing onto the bed. The moment his head hit the pillow, sleep claimed him instantly.